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University breaks ground at Legends on electric vehicle charging station with photovoltaic canopy

Boone, NC—Construction for Appalachian State University's four-station electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) began this week. The station should be operational by mid-July.

Integrated into the design of the station are 21 solar panels capable of producing up to 5Kw of clean, renewable energy to the charging process. The station, located in Legends parking lot on Hardin Street, will be the university's first solar powered system dedicated to transportation. It augments a traditionally fueled EVCS already installed in the Rivers Street parking garage and is a result of the university's partnership with the Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge.

Funds for the station were provided, in part, by the university's Renewable Energy Initiative (REI). REI collects $10 from each student per academic year to implement renewable energy solutions on campus. Fifty thousand dollars was earmarked by REI to cover the cost of the photovoltaic components of the charging station including the 5 kW solar photovoltaic array, the structure canopy, an inverter, charge controller and a campus compatible, web-based monitoring system.

"This is just one more tool in our arsenal toward reaching our goal of carbon neutrality," said Jim Dees, data and assessment specialist in the Office of Sustainability at the university. "This is a high profile collaborative effort between the Appalachian State Physical Plant, the REI and our office. The location in the Legends lot will serve as a highly visible statement to the community about our commitment to sustainability."